(1 of )In a handout photo, Tommy Caldwell, left, and Kevin Jorgeson climbing the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Jan. 1, 2015. The two climbers are attempting to climb more than half a mile up a section known as Dawn Wall without the benefit of ropes, a feat they have sought for several years with single-minded obsession. (Brett Lowell/Big UP Productions via The New York Times)

(2 of )climbers

(3 of )Climbers

(4 of ) Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell make their way up El Capitan's Dawn Wall on the final leg of their historic free climb up the Yosemite National Park landmark on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (JOHN BURGESS/ PD)

(5 of ) In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson climbs Pitch 15 during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(6 of ) In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell ascends from the base camp to climb what is known as pitch 17 during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(7 of ) In this Jan. 7, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell, top, climbs what is known as Pitch 17 with Kevin Jorgeson handling the line during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(8 of ) In this Jan. 5, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson grips the surface of the Razor Edge during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(9 of ) Kevin Jorgesen battles Pitch 15 on Dawn Wall in this photo from his Facebook page. (photo by Corey Rich Productions)

(10 of ) In this Jan. 3, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell works what is known as pitch 15 as he and Kevin Jorgeson, not shown, attempt what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(11 of ) In this Dec. 29, 2014 photo by Kevin Jorgeson, Tommy Caldwell eats dinner during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Kevin Jorgeson, elcapreport)

(12 of ) In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo provided by Tom Evans, Tommy Caldwell ascends what is known as pitch 10 on what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(13 of ) In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson ascends what is known as Pitch 8 as two men attempt what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(14 of ) In this Dec. 28, 2014 photo, Tommy Caldwell, 36, of Estes Park, Colo., with Kevin Jorgeson, 30, of Santa Rosa, Calif., not seen, set up camp as they begin what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(15 of ) In this Dec. 27, 2014 photo, Kevin Jorgeson, 30, of Santa Rosa, Calif., left, and Tommy Caldwell, 36, of Estes Park, Colo., prepare their climbing gear before beginning what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of a El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. Tom Evans, a climber and photographer, has been chronicling Jorgeson and Caldwell, as they scale their way using only their hands and feet. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(16 of ) In a handout photo, Tommy Caldwell, left, and Kevin Jorgeson climbing the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Jan. 1, 2015. The two climbers are attempting to climb more than half a mile up a section known as Dawn Wall without the benefit of ropes, a feat they have sought for several years with single-minded obsession. (Brett Lowell/Big UP Productions via The New York Times)

(17 of ) File - This Oct. 20, 2004 file photo shows the climbing face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Two men, Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell, are roughly halfway through climbing El Capitan: a free climb of a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

(18 of ) In this Jan. 9, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson climbs on what is known as pitch 15 during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(19 of ) In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo provided by Tom Evans, Kevin Jorgeson elebrates his finishing the climb of Pitch 15 while two photographers shoot video and stills from above during what has been called the hardest rock climb in the world: a free climb of El Capitan, the largest monolith of granite in the world, a half-mile section of exposed granite in California's Yosemite National Park. The first climber reached its summit in 1958, and there are roughly 100 routes up to the top. (AP Photo/Tom Evans, elcapreport)

(20 of ) Kevin Jorgeson of California, wearing green, and 36-year-old Tommy Caldwell, wearing blue, near the summit of El Capitan Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, as seen from the valley floor in Yosemite National Park, Calif. The two climbers vying to become the first in the world to use only their hands and feet to scale a sheer granite face in California's Yosemite National Park are almost to the top. Jorgeson and Caldwell have been attempting what many thought impossible. The men have been "free-climbing" to the 3,000-foot summit for 17 days, meaning they don't use climbing aids other than ropes only to prevent deadly falls. Each trained for more than five years, and they have battled bloodied fingers and unseasonably warm weather. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

(21 of ) A spectator uses a telescope to watch Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell make their way up El Capitan's Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (JOHN BURGESS/ PD)

(22 of ) Crowds watch and wait anxiously in El Capitan Meadow as Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell close in on the top of their ascent of El Capitan's Dawn Wall at Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (JOHN BURGESS/ PD)

(23 of ) Shown is El Capitan where two climbers are vying to become the first in the world to use only their hands and feet to scale a sheer slab of granite make their way to the summit Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. The pair are closing in on the top of the 3,000-foot (900-meter) peak and if all goes as planned, 30-year-old Kevin Jorgeson of Santa Rosa and 36-year-old Tommy Caldwell of Colorado, should complete their climb early Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

(24 of ) Kevin Jorgeson of California, wearing green, and 36-year-old Tommy Caldwell, wearing blue lower right, climb near the summit of El Capitan Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, as seen from the valley floor in Yosemite National Park, Calif. The two climbers vying to become the first in the world to use only their hands and feet to scale a sheer granite face in California's Yosemite National Park are almost to the top. Jorgeson and Caldwell have been attempting what many thought impossible. The men have been "free-climbing" to the 3,000-foot summit for 17 days, meaning they don't use climbing aids other than ropes only to prevent deadly falls. Each trained for more than five years, and they have battled bloodied fingers and unseasonably warm weather. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

(25 of ) Media members watch as two climbers vying to become the first in the world to use only their hands and feet to scale a sheer slab of granite make their way to the summit of El Capitan Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. The pair are closing in on the top of the 3,000-foot (900-meter) peak and if all goes as planned, 30-year-old Kevin Jorgeson of California and 36-year-old Tommy Caldwell of Colorado, should complete their climb early Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Halfway up the face of soaring El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Kevin Jorgeson remains optimistic. If only his bloodied fingers prove as resilient as his spirit, he may yet conquer the climb of his life.

“My battle with Pitch 15 continues,” Jorgeson posted on Instagram early Wednesday afternoon. “After 6 years of work, my #DawnWall quest comes down to sending this pitch. Last night, I experienced a lightness and calm like never before. Despite failing, it will always be one of my most memorable climbing experiences. On my 4th attempt, around 11pm, the razor sharp holds ripped both the tape and the skin right off my fingers. As disappointing as this is, I’m learning new levels of patience, perseverance and desire. I’m not giving up. I will rest. I will try again. I will succeed.”

Jorgeson, a Santa Rosa native, and climbing partner Tommy Caldwell are attempting to ascend the entire route of the Dawn Wall, a vertical section of El Cap that appears as smooth as porcelain from a distance, and is only slightly more flawed at arm’s length.

This is the climbers’ sixth winter attacking the Dawn Wall Project and, they believe, the first in which they have a strong chance of “pushing” the route, or climbing it from bottom to top. Jorgeson told The Press Democrat on Wednesday that if they are successful, it will take them at least another week to reach the summit.

Caldwell and Jorgeson began their push on Dec. 27 and notched several successes in rapid order. Here at the midpoint, things get tricky.

A pitch is the segment of a climb that can safely be supported by one rope length, and the toughest pitches on the Dawn Wall are smack dab in the middle of the route. Pitches 14 and 15 are rated 5.14d on the Yosemite Decimal System, near the extreme upper end of the scale.

Caldwell, 36, successfully completed Pitch 15 — a right-to-left traverse with minuscule holds — on Monday, but Jorgeson, 30, has been unable to replicate the feat during at least two days of trying. Caldwell forged ahead Wednesday while Jorgeson cleared his mind and gave those fingertips a chance to heal a bit.

“Basically, I need to rest my skin again before trying Pitch 15 again,” Jorgeson said in an email. “Tommy is through the crux (a particularly difficult sequence). He is going to continue freeing pitches up to wino (Wino Tower, a small platform of rock a little higher on the cliff) and wait for me to catch up after that. … Fingers are pretty beat, which is a frustrating limiting factor, but a reality of this project.”

As Gaelena Jorgeson, Kevin’s mother, said: “You can only put your hands on razor blades for so long before they’re bloody and numb.”

Caldwell called his recent achievement “bittersweet” in light of Jorgeson’s struggles.

Posting a close-up photograph of Jorgeson attempting a hand hold, Caldwell wrote Wednesday: “These are the crux holds of Pitch 15. Some of the smallest and sharpest holds I have ever attempted to hold onto. Is crazy to think that the skin on our fingertips could be the limiting fact towards success or failure. I have resorted to setting my alarm to wake myself up every four hours to reapply @climbonproducts.”

Because even moderate warmth can make the climbers’ hands slippery and melt the rubber soles of their shoes on the exposed face of El Capitan, they climb at night and in the early morning. Jorgeson and Caldwell sleep along the rock face on a portaledge, a sort of hanging tent system, during the ascent. They have Internet access and plenty of food and coffee, though they are exposed to the elements. Fortunately, the weather has been cooperative.

No one has ever free climbed the length of the Dawn Wall. (“Free climbing” involves the use of ropes as a safety measure, but not to aid in climbing.) With a 3,000-foot granite monolith to scale and five pitches rated in the 5.14 category — requiring a level of expertise that only world-class climbers can hope to execute — the Dawn Wall is undoubtedly the hardest route in Yosemite. Some experienced alpinists are calling it the toughest in the world.

The final 12 pitches of the climb are relatively straightforward, making this middle section the key to Jorgeson’s and Caldwell’s chances.

Meanwhile, media coverage of the climb has exploded. When The Press Democrat reported on the imminent ascent Dec. 21, it felt like something of a secret. But since the New York Times featured Jorgeson and Caldwell on Sunday, their adventure has been profiled by the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Newsweek and the Huffington Post, plus numerous TV outlets. A film crew is following the climbers to document the experience.

“There’s a lot of media hype about this, like it went viral,” Gaelena Jorgeson said. “We’re all kind of astounded. I think it’s because there was not a lot of news going on. But it became, I think, distracting for him. It took his focus off of the moment.”

As Kevin Jorgeson regains his focus and applies regular coats of hand salve, the Dawn Wall Project has finally captivated the public. Serious climbers have followed its progress for several years.

“Every once in a while, something occurs that’s beyond where others have pushed it,” Quigley said. “This is a feat of mental prowess, a feat of planning, and it involves physical strength we haven’t seen before. Most would say it’s the greatest achievement if it goes down.”

First, of course, Jorgeson has to go up.

You can reach Staff Writer Phil Barber at 521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @Skinny_Post